April 9, 2019 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), the first senator to call on Kirstjen Nielsen to resign as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, released a statement Monday after Secretary Nielsen announced her resignation:

“Kirstjen Nielsen’s resignation was long overdue. Under her tenure, children were ripped from their parents’ arms and locked into cages, forced to endure inhumane conditions and to suffer trauma that will endure for the rest of their lives. She repeatedly denied under oath that the administration implemented a family separation policy despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Her leadership failed the department’s mission and hurt morale among her employees.

“As a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, let’s be absolutely clear: I will not support a nominee who does not forcefully and unequivocally denounce this administration’s policy of separating families at the border. The next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security must be committed to reuniting families and protecting the human rights of those seeking asylum. Cruelty is not a substitute for a smart, lawful, and humane immigration policy. The American people deserve better.”
Source: Senator Kamala D. Harris